Employers and alums join forces to recruit Tuskegee University students

10/3/2013

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (October 3, 2013) — Tuskegee University held its 34th annual career fair Thursday, which featured more than 100 employers from all over the country. The employers met with students at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center at Tuskegee University to discuss the possibility of future internships, cooperative education opportunities, and full-time employment.

Lincoln-David Yarbrough with recruiter

Student Government Association president, Kyle Spencer, started as an intern with Graybar Electric and will begin as a full-time employee upon graduation.

“I have interned with Graybar Electric NY District for the past two summers and recently accepted a full time offer to work for them after graduation. I feel as though the career fair has been a great event that has given Graybar an opportunity to hire the scholarly students we have here at Tuskegee,” Spencer said.

Prior to Career Fair, students participated in the Tuskegee University Business and Industry co-sponsored Student Interview Clinic. The clinic focused on preparation for the interview, which included appropriate attire, resume critique, verbal and nonverbal behavior. Scheduled participants were provided DVDs of their interviews. The clinic was such a success that four additional stations were added to the original 10 stations and business and industry employer participation was also commendable with 33 participants.

There were two receptions associated with the Annual Career Fair. Student Government officials hosted the Students' Reception for Employers. Also, there was the president’s reception where 3M, Chevron, Edward Jones, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, Procter & Gamble, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tuskegee University Business and Industry Cluster were given awards.

During the annual career fair, it is always pleasant to see alumni who have matriculated and entered the work force and come back to the university to offer advice and guidance to the student body. Gwynetta Henderson, a chemical engineering alumna who now works for Chevron said, “I am a proud alumna and it’s great to return to the annual career fair to help other students enter the workforce and contribute to society.”

In attendance was also former Mr. Tuskegee Byron Smith who is employed by Raytheon. Smith said he was happy to be back as a recent alum. He also stated, “Tuskegee continues to produce really good candidates and I was very impressed with the students I interacted with and I look forward to the continued corporate partnership between the university and Raytheon.

Students were excited to meet with the companies and tried to find the best match for them. Phillip Spear, a mechanical engineering senior, said “It was an exciting experience and I definitely received some valuable information and feedback from most of the recruiters.”